Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-31
COLOROW'S LIVE STOCK.
THE MILITIA AND COWBOYS HAVE IT
IN POSSESSION,

And the Government Orders That the Prop
erty Be Returned-The Indians All at
the ouray, Agency United States Off
ciais Inclined to Lay the Blame on the
whites-Rumors of Another Fight.
WASHINGTON CITY, Aug PA dispatch
has been received at the war department,
dated at Fort Duchesne, Aug 29, from Col.
Randlett in which he says:
@Colorow and all his following are now at
Ouray agency, fifty miles from Colorado,
and manifest disposition to remain on their
reservation. No more excitement among the
Indians Militia and cowboys hold 800 horses
and thousands of sheep and goats belonging
to Colerow and Chipeta, Ouray's widow.
This stock was grazing on the land claimed
by the Indians as belonging to their reserva
ton and where they have been permitted by
their agent to live for years. Colorado set
tiers have claimed locations there and have
at last succeeded in driving the Indians in.
Coiorow has not in this trouble been on the
war-path and has made his way to the res
ervation, avoiding hostilities as far as pos
siblen
Commissioner Atkins of the Indian office,
also received the following dispatch from In
dian Agent Byrnes dated Ouray agency,
Utah, Aug. 20, which threw more light on
the situation out there:
"Colorow aud his followers are now at the
agency. They say they are not mad, and do
not want to fight They express willing
ness to remain on the reservation. Maj Les
lie, who fired on these Indians on the border
of the reservation, took possession and ran
off about 800 head of the Indians horses that
were grazing on the public lands near the
reservation line The horses were corralled
at Raugely, Colo, by Maj Leslie, who in
formed Lieut.. Burnett that he would hold
them until certain Indians were delivered up
to him. The cowboys are breaking these In
dian horses for their own Use Unless some
thing is quickly done these horses will not be
| recovered
a therefore request that you obtain author
| ity from the war department TO allow Col
Randlett, commanding Fort Duchesne, to
send detail of men to bring these horses &c
| the reservation, as it would be dangerous for
| Indians to go, as well as agency employees, as
| they would be roughly handled, being known
| to be in sympathy with the Indians. These
Indians, when pursued by Sheriff Kendall,
| were compelled to abandon 1000 sheep, be-
| sides large herds of goats, which should be
recovered with the horses
| These Indians when attacked in Colorado,
| were on peaceful hunting expedition, and
they believed that they had right under the
treaty of "a, and as understood with them
and the commission, to hunt upon these lands
| in Colorado. Please send authority by tele-
graph"
With these dispatches before them the stu
alton was carefully considered by the presi-
| dent, Acting Secretary Muldrow, of the in
| terror department, aud Gen. McFeely, acting
secretary of war and as result the follow
ing telegraphic instructions were sent to Gov
ernor Adams. of Colorado:
| Agent Bvrnes, of the Uintah and Ourav
| agency, reports that Maj Leslie has taken
possession of $40 head of Indian horses that
were grazing on the public lands near the
reservation line; that he corralled them at
| Rangely and would hold them until certain
Indians were delivered up TO him | am di-
rected by the president to request that you
take all proper measures to deliver these
horses to Agent Byrnes. The latter will he
| directed to take possession of the same for
the Indians as soon as arrangements are made
v
to cooperate with Agent Byrnes in collecting
the sheep, goats. and other property of these
Indians with view of restoring the same to
them on the reservation.
| Commissioner Atkins also sent the follow
ing instruction by telegraph to Indian Agent
Byrues:
You will, pursuant to statute, remove
from your reservation all persons found there
contrary to law, and prevent unlawful en-
croachments or entries thereon for any pur-
pose. The military will be at once ordered
to cooperate with you and aid you in enforc-
ing these instructions The civil authorities
of Colorado and those acting with them must
proceed in the manner provided by law fol
the enforcement of any process issued BY
state authority, and the government will il
the emergency arises, assist them in orderly
aud lawful efforts to enforce such process,
You will also collect and restore to the III
,lians on the reservation all the property
abandoned by them. Governor Adams ha>
been requested to direct the delivery to you
of the horses captured from the Indians and
now held by order of Mai Leslie"
The military will at once cooperate will
Agent Bvrnes and render such assistance a
will enable HIM to carry ont these instruc
tions 1t is now believed by the war and in
terror department officials that there is NJ
danger of further collision between the stat
militia and the Indians, and that the militar,
and the Indian agent will soon adjust thu
difficulty and restore peace and tranquility
on the border.
RFATEN BY THE STATESMEN.